Adjustable grip bowling ball



y 1968 w. .1. JANKIEWICZ ET AL 3,383,109

ADJUSTABLE GRIP BOWLING BALL 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed May 7, 1965 INVENTORSWALTER J- JANKIEWICZ EDGAR A. NORFOLK,JR-

ATTORNEY y 1968 w. JANKIEWICZ ET AL 3,383,109

ADJUSTABLE GRIP BOWLiNG BALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1965ON-REMOVABLE WITHOUT.

DESTRUCTI INVENTORS WALTER J. JANKIEWICZ EDGAR A- NORFOLK,JR.

ATTORNEY y 1968 w. J. JANKIEWICZ ET AL 3,383,109

ADJUSTABLE GRIP BOWLING BALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1965INVENTORS WALTER J- JANKIEWICZ EDGAR A. NORFOLK, JR.

BY [MW f $2M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,333,109 ADJUSTABLE GRI?BOWLING BALL Walter J. Jankiewicz, Chesapeake, Va. (860 S. GreenbrierSt. #619, Arlington, Va. 22204), and Edgar A. Norfolk, JL, 5761 DonDrive, Norfolk, Va. 23513 Filed May 7, 1965, Ser. No. 453,918 4 Claims.(Cl. 27363) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSaURE A bowling ball whichincorporates movable devices for changing the span between the fingerand thumb holes, the sizes of the finger and thumb holes, and thepitches or angle of entry of the finger and thumb holes generally.

The bowling ball may be so constructed that for tournament or leagueplay the aforementioned movable devices are locked in position before,during and after delivery and cannot be removed from the bowling ballwithout essentially destroying the devices. For so-called custom fittingpurposes, the movable devices will be so incorporated that they may beremoved for the purpose of removably inserting finger and thumb holeinserts or balls having different hole sizes. The bowling ball may befurther so constructed that by a proper choice of non-metalliccomposition materials of the appropriate shape and dimension it willconform exactly to American Bowling Congress (ABC) Bowling BallSpecifications for weight, size and balance requirements. When soconstructed the adjustable grip bowling ball may be rolled incompetition and when constructed as a fittting ball, it may be rolledexperimentally on regular bowling alleys against regulation tenpins.Also, with the increased amount of family and league bowling, whereinthe bowlers do not own their own bowling balls but use the ballsprovided by the bowling alley, the present invention provides aconstruction whereby each bowler not using his own bowling ball may befurnished with a ball having thumb and finger balls having holes thereinthat have diameters fitting the thumb and fingers of the bowler and areproperly angularly and specially located as to give each such bowler acomfortable grip on the bowling ball. Although thumbs and fingers havebeen referred to theretofore, it is to be understood that they are alldigits or digitals of a human hand and that in the following descriptiona thumb is as much as a digit of the hand as a finger is. It has beenpreviously established as common knowledge to those 0 skilled in the artthat the aforementioned ability to change the span, pitch and size ofthe finger and thumb gripping holes is extremely desirable both forcomfort, accuracy, and lift in delivering the bowling ball. It has alsobeen considered extremely desirable to enable the bowler to determinethe manner in which he or she would desire to have their own ball customfitted or tailored to their particular hand or hands so that they mayachieve the aforementioned comfort, accuracy and lift.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a bowlingball which by adjustment of a plurality of finger and thumb hole insertsand fiusto-conical sections the bowler may achieve adjustable spansbetween the thumb and each of any two of the four fingers of the handeither left or right and adjustment in span between the fingers as maybe considered separately or mutually desirable.

Another object of the invention is to provide different combinations offinger and thumb holes in sizes so as to conform to what may beconsidered the range of sizes that 3,383,109 Patented May 14, 1968 icewill fit a majority of bowlers hands both left and right as the case maybe. Depending upon construction, the combinations may vary from one toone hundred eight, all of which would be possible within the same ballusing a minimum of three or a maximum of nine inserts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby thepitches or angles of entry of the thumb and finger holes may begenerally universally adjustable over ranges that should be adequate forthe average bowlers desires.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby theaforementioned objects may be attainable for custom fiittng of bowlingballs so as to suit the individual bowlers comfort and accuracyrequirements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mehod ofconstruction of an adjustable grip bowling ball such that it may beaccepted and manufactured as meeting the requirements of the AmericanBowling Congress (ABC) Bowling Ball Specifications to enable use of theball in tournament and league play.

Other objects will become ap arent as the description proceeds inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bowling ball embodying the invention, andshowing a spherical thumb hole insert as well as two spherical fingerhole inserts, and the three frusto-conical outer surface clampingmembers by which they are secured to the body of the bowling ball.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE1, showing a frustoconical outer surface clamping member, two of threespherical thumb hole inserts, and a Wrench for clamping or loosening theentire thumb hole assembly with respect to the bowling ball.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE1, showing a frusto-conical outer clamping member and two spherical finer hole inserts. It should be understood that the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1is a portion of a great circle on the surface of the bowling ball, as isthe line 2-2 which appears as a straight line, being perpendicular tothe plane of the drawing.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are three views of a finger hole insert of theassembly of FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a bowling ball 16 of the type usedin bowling with tenpins. Such balls are of relatively large diameter andgenerally have three holes therein, one for a thumb, one for a middlefinger, and one for another finger, usually the ring finger, or the onenext to the little finger. As explained in the foregoing portion of thisdisclosure, the instant invention provides for a selection of more thanone hole for the thumb as well as for each of the other two fingers, andalso provides for variable angular positioning of all three holes. InFIGURE 1 is shown an exposed portion of a spherical thumb hole insert orthumb ball 11 having an axial thumb hole 12 therethrough, which hole maybe cylindrical or may have a slight taper from a larger to a smallerdiameter from its outer to its inner end. A clamping top 13 for thethumb ball 11 is also shown, and will be described. Also shown is amiddle finger ball 14 with a cylindrical or tapered hole 15 and itsclamping top 16, as well as a ring finger ball 17 with a cylindricalgortapered hole 18 and its clamping top 19. As will be understood the abovedescribed relationship of the middle and ring finger balls 14 and. 17 isfor right hand bowlers. For left hand bowlers, the relationship would bereversed, as the middle finger hole 15 is normally larger in diameterthan the ring finger hole 18.

The spherical thumb ball 11, middle finger ball 14 and ring finger ball17 are each adjustably but rigidly secured in place by similarconstructions which will be described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 3,as well as FIGURES 4 to 7 which are particularly applicable to the ringfinger and ring finger balls.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the bowling ball 1% has a cavity which isindicated generally by reference numeral 23 in FIGURE 3 and is generallybut not completely conical, having its largest diameter at the surfaceof the ball. The outermost portion of the cavity 23 has a conical wall24 which terminates in a circular recess 25 (FIGURE 2) rectangular incross section, in which is seated a resilient rubber O-ring gasket 26.The clamping top 13 which covers the cavity 23 so as to complete thespherical surface of the ball 11 where the cavity 23 occurs has aconical peripheral wall 27 which has a mating engagement with theconical wall 24 of the cavity and also has a fiat chordal inner wall 64(FIGURE 2) the outer periphery of which on gages the top of the O-ring26.

Bel-ow the circular recess 25 the recess 23 is in the shape of a portionof a sphere cut by two parallel planes spaced from but intersecting itsouter surface. This portion of the recess is indicated by the referencenumeral 29 in FIGURES 2 and 3. inwardly from the portion 29 the recessterminates in portions, the shape of which is not important, but whichin FIGURES 2 and 3 are shown as inwardly tapering frust-o-conical walls34 and. 35 of differing inclination. At the inner end or root of thewall 35 a gear seat insert 36 is threaded at 37 into mating threads inthe body of the bowling ball 10 and secured by a suitable cement so thatit is not removable.

Journaled for rotation within the gear seat insert 36 is a gear retainer38 having an enlarged integral cylindrical head 39 seated within amating enlarged and shouldered recess 40 in the gear seat insert 36. Apair of washers 43 and 44 made of a frictionless material such as Teflonor the like above the head 39 reduce friction when the gear retainer 38is rotated while under axial tension. A spur gear 45 having a lockingfunction which will be described, and which may be cylindrical orslightly conical, is secured to the outer end of the gear retainer 38 asby internal threads 47 which are affixed by a suitable cement orotherwise fused to the threaded outer end of the gear retainer 38, aftershaft 60 is inserted, and. a pair of Teflon or the like washers 48 and49 between the gear 45 and the fixed gear seat insert 36 may be used toreduce friction.

The gear retainer 38 extends only partially into the internally threadedportion of the spur gear 45, as is apparent from FIGURE 2, and a unitaryrotatable assembly comprising the gear retainer 38 and the locking spurgear 45 may be rotated by a Wrench 52 having a spindle 53, a handle 54,a conical spur gear 55 and a spindle 56 which is inserted into one of acircular series of spindle holes 57 in the outer surface of the gearseat insert 36. The wrench spindle 53 is inserted through the thumb hole12 in a thumb ball 11 as best shown in FIGURE 2, and the action of thewrench 52 in tightening a thumb ball 11 between the recess in thebowling ball 10 and the clamping top 13 will now be described.

A locking shaft 6%), coaxial with the gear retainer 38 has an integralenlarged inner end 61 which is threadedly received in the outer threadedportion of the internally threaded spur gear 45, which terminates in aninwardly directed shoulder 59 as shown in FIGURE 2. Its outer end 62 isthreaded into a blind tapped hole 63 in the center of the thumb ballclamping top 13 and fixedly secured therein by the use of a suitablecement. As will be apparent from FIGURE 2, the turning of the wrench 52in one direction will rotate the locking gear 45 to pull the lockingshaft 6%) inwardly toward the center of the bowling ball 18 togetherwith the clamping top 13. Turning the wrench 52 in the other directionwill loosen the clamping top.

The clamping top 13 has an inner planar surface 64 which is chordal tothe surface of the bowling ball 10, the periphery of the surface 64hearing against the O-ring gasket 26. The inner planar surface 64 of theclamping top is interrupted by a number of partial spherical recessescorresponding to the number of spherical thumb hole inserts or thumbballs 11 that are to be secured between the clamping top 13 and. thecavity (FIGURE 3) in the ball. While necessarily there must be at leastone such thumb ball 11 with its thumb hole 12, the embodiment of FIG-URES 2 and 3 has three such thumb balls equiangularly spaced and securedby the clamping top 13, each thumb ball having the same sphericaldiameter but having a thumb hole 12 of a different diameter.

In FIGURE 2 the thumb ball 11 is shown in vertical section. It isclamped between a part of the spherical portion 29 of the cavity 23 inthe ball 19 and a substantially hemispherical recess 67 on the innersurface of the clamp top 13, which recess terminates in a hole 68through the surface of the clamp top. As will be apparent from FIG- URE2, loosening of the clamp top 13 by the wrench 52 and continued rotationof the wrench will allow the clamp top to be raised above the outersurface of the ball 10 so as to clear the three thumb balls and. berotated about the axis of the locking shaft 60 and the hole 68 to rotateabout the same axis to position it in any location about the axis so asto position any one of the thumb balls in alignment with the hole 68.Also, while the clamp top is just loosened, any thumb ball may be movedin any direction until its thumb hole 12 is in a position that iscomfortable to the bowler. Assuming that the thumb hole 12 is of theproper tapered diameter to suit the bowler and is properly positioned,it may be locked in place by pulling the clamp top 13 against its seatand securing it by means of the wrench 52.

After assembly it is apparent that while the clamping top may beloosened for the purpose described above, it may not be removed entirelywithout destruction of the inwardly directed shoulder 59 at the upperend of the spur gear 45', which is an element of the securing means, orthe locking shaft 60, whichever fractures first.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the size of the clamp top 13 and of a thumbball clamped thereby are such that as many as three equiangularly spacedthumb balls 11, 69 and 7% may be clamped between the clamping top 13 andthe spherical portion 29 of recess 23. The three thumb balls areseparated by three identical filler spacers 71, 72 and 73 which fitbetween the spherical surfaces of the thumb balls and the sphericalportion 29 of the recess 2-3. There is also a central filler 74configured to the outer surfaces of the thumb balls and journaled on theshaft 60 atop a pair of washers 75 and 76 made of a frictionlessmaterial. Only the thumb balls 11 and 70 (the latter in dotted lines)are shown in FIGURE 2, the third thumb ball being above the plane of thefigure. It is apparent that there could be only two thumb balls arrangeddiametrically opposite each other from the axis of the locking shaft 60,in which case there would be only two filler spacers instead of thethree spacers 71, 72 and 73, but the two would be of differentconfiguration than those shown in FIGURE 3. Similarly, if there is onlyone thumb ball, there would be only one filler spacer. The surfaces ofthe thumb balls, the recesses in the clamping top 13, the surfaces ofthe filler spacers 71, 72 and 73 and of the central filler 74 arepreferably roughened or frosted to prevent relative movementtherebetween after being clamped in an adjusted position.

When more than one thumb ball is used, only one is in alignment with thehole 68 in the clamping top 13 and the others (one or two) would berotated so that their thumb holes 12 are not perpendicular with respectto the surface of the clamping top 13. The purpose of this is toincrease the thickness of the material in the clamping top 13 betweenits outer surface and the surface of a thumb ball so that it will beless susceptible to fracture during actual bowling.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the thumb ball 11 has a fiat surface 78 forming achordal plane that is parallel to the axis of the thumb hole 12. Whenthe thumb ball is not in use, as in the case of the thumb ball 70 ofFIGURE 2, it is rotated to a position such that the surface 70A ischordal with respect to the spherical surface of the clamping top 13,and the hemispherical recess in the clamping top 13 has a mating planarsurface 70B against which the surface 70A of the thumb ball 70 abuts.Its thumb hole is not indicated. Accordingly, the thickness of the outerwall of the clamping top 13 is thicker than if the thumb ball 70 ofFIGURE 2 were completely spherical.

By the construction described above, any one of the thumb balls, fromone to three in number, may be aligned with the hole 68 in the clamp top13. This is accomplished by inserting the Wrench 52 and rotating it in adirection to move the locking shaft 60 outwardly until the thumb ballsare no longer clamped in position and the clamping top 13 may be rotatedto position any one of the three thumb balls in alignment with the hole68 in the clamp top. Then, when the clamping top is rotated to positionthe hole 68 in the position where the thumb ball is in the properposition to suit the bowler, and the thumb hole 12 in the thumb ball isalso positioned to the satisfaction of the bowler, the wrench 52 isturned in the opposite direction to clamp the thumb ball and clampingtop in their selected positions.

The clamping top 16 locates and clamps any one of three middle fingerballs 14 in a similar manner, as does the clamping top 19 position anyone of three ring finger balls 17, and the construction shown in FIGURE4 is so similar in most respects to that shown in FIGURE 2 that only thedifferences will be pointed out.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 4, one of the ring finger balls 17, having aring finger hole 18, is shown in FIG- URE 1 and in cross section inFIGURE 4. A second one spaced at 120 degrees is shown in dotted lines at17A in FIGURE 4. Since the normal spread between the middle finger andring finger is much less than between the middle finger and the thumb,when extended to reach the proper holes in a bowling ball, the middlefinger ball 14 and ring finger ball 17 will normally be relativelyclose, as shown in FIGURE 1, even though their positions are adjustable.It is possible that a bowler may wish to use his little finger insteadof his ring finger, in which case the spacing of these finger balls inFIGURE 1 would be farther apart than is shown.

In order to provide for the close spacing of the middle finger ball 14and the ring finger ball 17 as shown in FIGURE 1 so that their fingerholes 15 and 18 may be close together, each of these balls has asubstantial portion of their body removed, as best shown by the ringfinger ball 17 plan view in FIGURE 5. Although the ball is essentiallyspherical, it is cut away as shown in FIG- URE to a curved outer wall 81which is essentially the surface of a cylinder having a diametersubstantially larger than that of the ball 17 and having an axissubstantially but not necessarily parallel to the axis of the middlefinger hole 18. The hole through the clamping top 19 for the ring fingerhole 18 in the ball 17 is indicated at 82. A ring finger hole ball 17A,is indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, with its ring finger hole 18A,A central filler 83 similar to the filler 74 of FIGURE 3 is used, aswell as three equiangularly spaced fillers similar to but differentlyshaped from the filler spacers 71, 72 and 73 of FIGURE 3. One is shownat 98 in FIGURE 4.

In view of the small space between the middle finger and ring fingerballs 14 and 17, there is no room for an O-ring gasket such as 26 inFIGURE 2, and the recesses in the outer surface of the ball to receivethe clamping tops 16 and 19 are substantially conical as shown at 84 inFIGURE 4 there being a small gap 85 between the inner surface of theclamping top 19 and the outer surface of the equiangularly spaced fillerspacers, so that when the spur gear 45 is rotated by a wrench 52 thereis a wedging action between the clamping top and the conical recess 84as well as a clamping action against the one or more ring finger balls17.

As pointed out before, the middle finger ball 14 is adjusted and securedin position in a manner identical to the ring finger ball 17.

The method of construction and assembly of FIG- URES 1 to 7 has beenexpressely shown for the purpose of providing an adjustable bowling ballthat will meet the requirements of the American Bowling Congress BowlingBall Specifications that delineate that any adjustable gripping holedevices must be non-removable to the extent that they must beself-destroying if an attempt is made to remove them from the bowlingball in which they have been initially installed for the purpose ofpreventing any inadvertent or intentional loading of the ball. Repairsof course must be possible by someone suitably equipped at some laterdate but not readily during tournament or league play. The bowling ball10 can also be so constructed by a .proper attention to a choice ofnonmetallic materials and shape and dimensions of the same that the ballcan also meet the stringent requirements of the previously mentionedspecification as regards to weight and balance.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A substantially spherical bowling ball, having (a) at least twoequiangularly spaced inserts in the shapes of segments of a spherewithin said ball, each having a finger receiving hole extendingsubstantially axially therethrough, said holes in said inserts being ofdifferent diameters,

(b) fillers in the assembled ball, one on each side of each insert andeach filler in contact with both adjoining inserts and spacing themequiangularly,

(c) a circular rotatable clamping top, including a finger receiving holetheretnrough, its outer surface being a continuation of the sphericalsurface of said ball and its inner surface having means engaging each ofsaid inserts, said hole in said clamping top being in alignment with theaxial hole in one of said inserts,

(d) and securing means within said ball coaxial with said clamping topand operable to secure said inserts and clamping top in a selectedposition with the hole in one of said inserts in alignment with the holein said clamping top,

(c) said securing means within said ball being accessible from theexterior of said ball through the hole in the clamping top and hole inone of said inserts.

2. The ball described in claim 1, wherein, said securing meanscomprises:

(a) a spur gear having a bore with internal threads,

(b) a locking shaft attached to said clamping top and having its innerend threaded for engagement with said internal threads in the bore ofsaid spur gear.

(c) and a gear retainer rotatably secured to said ball interiorly ofsaid spur gear and affixed at its outer end to the inner end of saidspur gear,

(d) said spur gear and gear retainer being rotatable by a wrenchinserted through the hole in said clamping top and hole in one of saidinserts.

3. The ball described in claim 2, wherein, said securing means isnon-removable from said ball without destruction of said securing means.

7 8 4. The ball described in claim 2, wherein, all of the 2,991,0797/1961 Yettito 273-63 elements therein are of non-metallic material.3,212,781 10/ 1965 Fabanich 27363 References Cited ANTON O. OECHSLE,Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

2,393,908 1/ 1946 Hubbard 27363 G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

2,693,034 11/1954- Watson 27363

